Heated floor construction



June 27, 1950 F. H. EDGERLY HEATED'FLOOR CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 15. 1946 F. H. EDGERLY HEATED FLOOR CONSTRUCTION June 27,1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 194e Z8 26 24 38 Patented `lune 27,1950 2,512,854 l HEATED FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Fay H. Edgerly, Flint, Mich.

Application February 15, 1946, Serial No.- '647,873

s claims. (ci. 72-67) u This invention relates to floor construction andin particular to floor construction for houses, 'for structures heatedbyradiant heat, and for structures employing an underefloor air space crplenum chamber.

Most recent trends in house construction are to ranch house style houseswhich are preferably one story in height and with a utility roomreplacing the basement. Coupled with the trend toward onestory ranchtype houses is modern radiant heating normally accomplished by embeddingheating pipes into the walls and floor and circulating hot watertherethrough. As an alternate, the attic of a house is sometimesinsulated at the underside of the roof and employed 'as a plenum chamberfor heated air, the outside walls of the house are hollow and heated bywarm air dra-wn downwardly therethrough from the attic plenum chamberinto a plenum chamber below the floor from which the warm air is drawninto Aa lheat transfer unit in which the circulated air vis re-heated toa higher temperature and again discharged into the attic plenum chamberfor recirculation as above indicated.

Because of the eXtreme rectangular shape of some one story structuressuch as ranch houses,

uniformity of warm air circulation has been a diicult problem. Also, inall types of houses or other structures Without basements particularlywhen used for living quarters, oiiices, or assembly purposes, thediilicult .problem of profviding a satisfactory dry, Warm, vermin-proofand reproof permanent flooring is presented.

With the foregoing in view, the prim-ary ob- 'ject of the invention isto provide an economical, dry, warm, vermin-proof and reproof permanentflooring for `houses and other structures without basements.

Another object of the invention is vto provide an economical easilyerected precast oor construction for houses and other structures withoutbasements which is not only dry, warm,

vermin-proof, reproof and permanent but .iis provided integral with thefloor construction for directing the flow of airfrom the corners of4re.ctangular structures to a central duct whereybyte assure an evenmovement of air in the under-floor plenum chamber from all parts' ofIthe structure to saidduct.

Otherk objects of the invention will become apparent by reference Vtothe following detailed Vdescription taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. v1 is a plan view of the oor of a ranch house illustrating theinvention showing'a typical duct and under-licor plenum chamberarrangement for -a radiant heating system.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the floor constructiondisclosed in Fig. 1 showing in detail one cf many possible arrangementsof precast oor panels embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a precast floor kpanel of the type employed inFigs. l and 2 to illus"- trate the invention.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View yof the oor panel shownin Fig-3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of1Fig. 2showing a typical joint between precast iloorwpanels Aembodying theinvention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional View taken on the line 6-6 ofFig.1 showing in considerable detail the general .construction of a ranchhouse embodying the invention.

Fig. 'I is a plan view taken on the line 'I--l of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like Ynumerals referto like andcorresponding parts throughout the several views, the ranch houseselected to illustrate the invention is much longer than itis wide andis shaped as indicated in Fig. 1 which shows the outer foundation walll0, a plurality of iioor panels II including return airl directingbaliles l2 arranged to assure adequate flow of return air drawn from theextremities of the ranch house through the under-floor .plenum chamberI3, see Fig. 6, and return air ducts I4 and I5 to the hot air furnace I6from which re-heated air leaves through' the hot air duct I'I to theattic space of the ranch house.

Floor panelsy ll embodying the invention Aare shown in detail in Figs. 3and 4 and comprisea slab I8 which may/'be reinforced if the floor panelsare cast in suincient size to warrant reinforcement, rcomrllementarytongues lll and grooves 20 on opposite sides and ends of the said slabI8, a bearing block '2| preferably along the tongued end ofthe slab I8,and a diagonally disposed air directing balile depending from said slabyI8 but of less depth than the said bearing block 2 I. It will be notedthat the apex of each tongue AI8 lis nattened to provide space forcement or mastic material 22 between the apex of the tongue i9 and baseof the groove 2| as indicated in Fig. 5. The sides I9 of the tongues I9and the sides 283 cf the grooves 20 are complementary so that theybecome in substantial engagement with each other when oor panels I I arejuxtaposed, only a very thin lm of mastic cement or other cementitiousmaterial 22 remaining therebetween. Thus, the floor panels II areself-leveling to the extent of providing a smooth top surface when laidover a substantially level sub-floor 23. The said oor panels II may becast of concrete, cement mortar or other suitable cementitious materialand may have admixed thereto expanded vermiculite or other materialwhich will make the floor panels I I lighter and easier to handle andmore readily cut to iit special details which are usually encountered inerecting precast panels.

Fig. 2 shows in an enlarged plan View a typical portion of the iioor ofthe structure described in Fig. 1 wherein iioor panels. II are erectedin the proper relationship with respect to each other. Fig. shows in a4further enlarged sectional view a typical joint between floor panels ii wherein the exposed top of the bearing block 2l on one of the saidfloor panels I I has been spread with cement or mastic 22, the groove ofanother floor panel II has been buttered with cement or mastic `22 andboth oor panels II have been urged together in self-leveled relationshipwith the sides i90 of the tongues 'I 9" in substantial .engagement withthe sides 2011 of the complementary grooves 20. Obviously any suitable(sementil -tious material may be employed instead'of the cement ormastic 22. The horizontal dot and dash line in Fig. 5 represents thesub-floor upon which licor panels II are erected, and the space'indicated by the numeral I3 between the said sub-Hoor and the bottomofthe slab I8 of the floor panel II comprises'th'e under-door plenumchamber I3.

`When air is withdrawn from the plenum chamber I3 into the hot airVfurnace' II` throughthe return air ducts I4A and I5, its normal travelis directly transverse of the floor'panels I I through 'the' space belowthe slab I8 of the oor panels l I and between the bearing blocks 2Ithereof. However, the air directing baies I2 restrict the saidtransverse flow of air and'only permit a portion of the air to flowunder the said bafes I2'directly -from the outer walls of the structureto the main return air duct I4. The air directing bailles I2 cause alarge portion of the air being withdrawn from the outer walls of thestructure through Athe under-floor plenum chamber I3 created by 'thefloor panels I I to be drawn from the extreme l'corners of the structurethan otherwise would be possible, .thus causing a more even heating ofthe structure by a hot air radiant heating system which is preferablyemployedwhen floor construction embodying the invention is used.

structed of nailable material. otherwise-the s aid wood flooring may beset in a mastic or tar composition 34. The studs 24 are set on blocks 35rather than the usual continuous sill whereby to provide a plurality ofcommunicating passages 36 between the studs 24 connecting the air spaces31 in the brick veneer wall construction 38 with the under-licor plenumchamber I3.

The said foundation wall I0 has a ledge 39 Iformed therein onto whichthe under-floor 23 is seated preferably on crushed stone or cinders 230.The iioor panels II are positioned on the under- Voor 23 as hereinbeforedescribed. The slab portion I8 of the iioor panels II is held backlaterally from the back of the foundation wall IB as indicated in Fig. 6to avoid blocking the communicating passages 36 between the air spaces31 in the brick veneer wall construction 38 and the under-floor plenumchamber I3. A plurality of ports 4i) connect the under-floor plenumchamber I3 with the main returnair duct I4. Floor panels 4I having noair directing baies I2 are preferably employed over the main return airduct I4.

When an under-floor plenum chamber Without air directing baiiies isdesired, floor panels 4I composed only of a tongue and groove slabportion I8 and a bearing block 2| may be employed. The use of floorpanels having integral bearing blocks are extremely economical to layinasmuch as the particular arrangement of the bearing block anddisposition of a tongue lthereover as best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5provide substantially automatic leveling while the floor panels arebeing layed in peripheral interlocked juxtaposition to each other asindicated in Figs. 2 and 5. If the said automatic leveling of floorpanels II embodying the invention lifts or tilts an integral bearingblock 2I oii'the sub-floor 23, the workman laying the floor iills thespace between the bottom of the bearing block 2I and the sub-floor 23with cement, mortar or any other suitable material. However, if thebearing blocks 2| are cemented with a stiff mastic, mortar or the liketo the sub-floor 23, pressure on a high spot in the slab i8 of joinedoorpanels II prior to the initial setof the cementitious materialemployed under the bearing blocks 2I will lower the high spot or highend of any bearingblock 2i and provide a level floor; that is, a floorin which the tops of juxtaposed panels are in transverse alignment asdistinguished from having upright oisets therebetween.

Although but one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed anddescribed, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size,shape, arrangement and details of the various elements' thereof withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as dened by the appendedclaims.

I claim: 1. In precast panel floor construction, a plurality of precastfloor panels erected and cemented together in longitudinal and lateraljuxtaposed position over a sub-iioor with the joints therebetween instaggered relationship, each panel including a diagonally disposeddepending baiiie cast integral therewith extending short of the sidesand ends thereof and a narrow bearing block cast integral therewithlocated along one end thereof extending laterally from the said end andfrom one side adjacent said end supporting one end of said panel and theend of a panel adjacent the bearing block end of said panel and thecenter of the side of a panel adjacent the side of the said panel fromwhich the said bearing block extends whereby to provide acomplete'dprecast panel floor construction supported by a minimum of bearingpoints wherein each iloor panel is supported on all four sides and aplenum chamber is established thereunder, the said baille being of lessdept than the depth of the said bearing block but deeper than one-halfthe. depth thereof whereby to cause the larger portion of air within thesaid plenum chamber to follow a diagonal course under said iioorconstruction when air is circulated therethrough.

2. In a precast panel fioor construction which forms a plenum chamber, aduct system comprising spaced inlet and outlet ducts, a plurality ofprecast floor panels each including integral means supporting the samein spaced relationship over a sub-floor, said iioor panel being erectedand cemented together in longitudinal and lateral juxtaposed positionwith the joints therebetween in staggered relationship, diagonallydisposed air directing baiiles depending from said i'loor panels less indepth but greater than onehalf the height or the said supporting meansand spaced laterally therefrom directing to the desired'distribution thegreater portion of air passing through the said plenum chamber, saidpanels having complementary angular tongues and grooves formed inopposite sides and ends thereof less in width than the thickness of thesaid panels and of such proportions that only the sides oi the groovesengage the complementary sides of the tongues when the panels arejuxtaposed whereby a loor panel being laid becomes self-leveled withrespect to panels adjacent thereto.

3. In precast panel floor construction, a plurality of precast floorpanels each including integral bearing blocks supporting the same inspaced relationship over a sub-floor at one end thereof and supportingthe floor panels adjacent one end and one side thereof said floor panelsbeing erected and cemented together in longitudinal and lateraljuxtaposed position with the joints therebetween in staggeredrelationship, diagonally disposed air directing baliles depending fromsaid iloor panels less in depth but greater than one-half the height ofthe said bearir: blocks and spaced laterally therefrom, said pan`l elshaving complementary angular tongues and grooves formed in oppositesides and ends thereof less in width than the thickness of the saidpanels and of such proportions that only the sides of the grooves engagethe complementary sides of the tongues when the panels are juxtaposedwhereby a ioor panel being laid becomes selfleveled with respect topanels adjacent thereto.

4. In precast panel iioor construction, a plurality of precast iioorpanels erected and cemented together in longitudinal and lateraljuxtaposed position over a sub-floor with the joints therebetween instaggered relationship, each panel having a narrow bearing block castintegral therewith located along one end thereof extend' ing laterallyfrom the said end and from one side adjacent said end supporting one endof said panel and the end of a panel adjacent the bearing block end ofsaid panel and the center of the side of a panel adjacent the side ofthe said panel from which the said bearing block extends whereby toprovide 'a completed precast panel floor construction supported by aminimum of bearing points wherein each floor panel is supported on allfour sides and a plenum chamber is established thereunder, anddiagonally disposed air directing baiiies depending from said oor panelsless in depth but greater than one- Ill 6 half the height of the saidbearing blocks and spaced laterally therefrom.

5. In precast panel floor construction, a plurality of precast oorpanels erected and cemented together in longitudinal and lateraljuxtaposed position over a sub-floor with the joints therebetween instaggered relationship, each panel having a narrow bearing block castintegral therewith located along one end thereof extending laterallyfrom said end and from one side adjacent said end supporting one end ofsaid panel and the end of a panel adjacent the bearing block end of saidpanel and the center of the side of a panel adjacent the side f of thesaid panel from which the said bearing block -extends whereby to providea completed precast panel floor construction supported by a minimum ofbearing points wherein each floor panel is supported on all four sides'and a plenum chamber is established thereunder, and diagonally disposedair directing baiiies depending from said iioor panels less in depth butgreater than one-half the height of the said bearing blocks and spacedlaterally therefrom, said panels having complementary angular tonguesand grooves form-ed in opposite sides and ends thereof less in widththan the thickness of the said panels and of such proportions that onlythe sides of the grooves engage the complementary sides of the tongueswhen the panels are juxtaposed whereby a oor panel being laid becomesselfleveled with respect to panels adjacent thereto.

6. A precast iioor construction comprising a plurality of rectangularpanels of cementitious material each including integral means supportingthe same in spaced relationship over a subfloor at one end thereof, thesaid supporting means extending from one end and a portion of one sideof each of the said panels and supporting floor panels erected adjacentone end and one side thereof, diagonally disposed air directing baiilesless in depth but greater than onehalf the height of the said supportingmeans depending from the said floor panels, said panels havingcomplementary angular tongues and grooves formed in opposite sides andends thereof less in width than the thickness of the said panels and ofsuch proportions that only the sides of the grooves engage thecomplementary sides of the tongues when panels are juxtaposed whereby aiioor panel being laid becomes selfleveled with respect to panelsadjacent thereto, the aggregate of the said floor panels forming aplenum chamber between the precast floor construction and the saidsub-floor wherein the greater portion of air therein is moved asdirected by said baiiies when said air is circulated therethrough.

FAY H. EDGERLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 869,615 Birnstock Oct. 29, 19071,371,856 Cade Mar. 15, 1921 1,406,852 Haden et al. Feb. 14, 19221,460,084 Wallis June 26, 1923 2,422,685 Keck June 24, 1947 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 410,431 Great Britain May 17, 1934

